River Valley High School has shut down its football season after a disturbing video surfaced showing three Black players on the team being subjected to a mock "slave auction." The boys are shown standing nearly naked as their teammates scream at them.
Yuba City Unified School District Superintendent Doreen Osumi sent a lengthy statement to CNN about the troubling incident.
Osumi wrote, "The recording clearly demonstrates that this situation was orchestrated and organized, which underscores my concern that students spent time contemplating this terrible act without the slightest regard that this action is hateful and hurtful.
"They may have thought this skit was funny but it is not; it is unacceptable and requires us to look honestly and deeply at issues of systemic racism. Re-enacting a slave sale as a prank tells us that we have a great deal of work to do with our students so they can distinguish between intent and impact."
She added, "When students find humor in something that is so deeply offensive, it tells me that we have an opportunity to help them expand their mindset to be more aware, thoughtful and considerate of others."
The students identified in the video have been suspended. There is more about the school's response in the video below.
